discourseanalytic

Discourse analysis, sometimes described as a discourse-analytic approach, is the study of language use beyond the sentence level in social, political, and cultural contexts. It investigates how discourse constructs, maintains, and challenges social realities, including identities, relations, and power dynamics.

DA encompasses several traditions. Micro-level methods such as Conversation Analysis examine the structure of talk-in-interaction, while macro-level traditions like Critical Discourse Analysis and Foucauldian discourse analysis explore how discourse shapes ideologies, institutions, and social inequality.

Data are drawn from spoken and written texts, media content, and digital communication. Researchers typically work with naturally occurring discourse, employing transcription, qualitative interpretation, and, where appropriate, corpus-based tools. Analytic aims range from describing interactional patterns to revealing ideological assumptions embedded in language.

Originating in linguistics, sociolinguistics, and anthropology in the mid-20th century, discourse analysis broadened in the late 20th century with critical and ideational approaches. Prominent figures include Michel Foucault; Norman Fairclough; Teun A. van Dijk; Ruth Wodak; and James Paul Gee, among others.

Applications span media studies, education, politics, organizational communication, and sociocultural research. Critics point to concerns about methodological diversity and subjectivity, but proponents argue that discourse analysis reveals how language relates to power and social change. Good practice emphasizes explicit theoretical framing, transparent procedures, and justification of interpretations.